Product Information:

GSA Advantage!
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has an online ordering system and publishes various supply catalogs, guides, and schedules for recycled-content products through the Federal Supply Service.

Awards and Plaques

Government agencies purchase millions of dollars’ worth of awards and plaques each year for awards programs, recognition ceremonies, and other initiatives. Recovered-content awards are generally made from blown glass while plaques can be made with a variety of recovered materials including wood, paper, plastic, and plastic/wood composites.

¹EPA's recommendations do not preclude a procuring agency from purchasing awards and plaques manufactured from other materials. They simply require that a procuring agency, when purchasing glass, wood, paper, or plastic awards or plaques, purchase these items containing recovered materials when the item meets applicable specifications and performance requirements.

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Bike Racks

Bike racks provide a method for cyclists to secure their bicycles safely. Commonly found in public areas, bike racks can be designed to hold 1 to 50 bicycles and can be free standing units, anchored by bolts or cement, or embedded into the ground.

¹The recommended recovered materials content levels for steel in this table reflect the fact that the designated item is generally made from steel manufactured in a Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF). Steel from the BOF process contains 25-30 percent total recovered steel, of which 16 percent is postconsumer steel.

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Blasting Grit

Blasting grit is an industrial abrasive used to shape, cut, sharpen, or finish a variety of other surfaces and materials. Abrasives are used in many industries, including construction, automotive, and landscaping and can be fashioned for use on metals, ceramics, carbides, composites, glass, and plastics.

¹The recommended recovered materials content levels for steel in this table reflect the fact that the designated item may contain steel manufactured in either a Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) or an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), or a combination of both. Steel from the BOF process contains 25-30 percent total recovered steel, of which 16 percent is postconsumer. Steel from the EAF process contains 100 percent total recovered steel, of which 67 percent is postconsumer. According to industry sources, blasting grit containing a combination of BOF and EAF steel would contain 25-85 percent total recovered steel, of which 16-67 percent would be postconsumer. Since there is no way of knowing which type of steel was used in the manufacture of the item, the postconsumer and total recovered material content ranges in this table encompass the whole range of possibilities, i.e., the use of EAF steel only, BOF steel only, or a combination of the two.

Product Specifications:

EPA did not find any specifications that would preclude the use of recovered materials in blasting grit. EPA recommends that procuring agencies exercise OSHA or other required standard safety practices when using blasting grit, particularly when using blasting grit containing slag materials.

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Industrial Drums

An industrial drum is a cylindrical container used for shipping and storing liquid or solid materials. According to the Plastic Drum Institute (PDI), between 12 and 15 million plastic drums are manufactured annually. Most drums are used to ship chemical and petroleum products. Steel, plastic, and pressed fiberboard drums can be manufactured with recovered steel, HDPE, and paperboard, respectively.

¹EPA's recommendations do not preclude a procuring agency from purchasing another type of industrial drum. They require that a procuring agency, when purchasing industrial drums made from steel, plastic, or fiber, purchase these items made with recovered materials when they meet applicable specifications and performance requirements.

²The recommended recovered materials content levels for steel in this table reflect the fact that the designated items are made from steel manufactured in a Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF). Steel from the BOF process contains 25-30 percent total recovered materials, of which 16 percent is postconsumer steel.

Product
Specifications:

The National Motor Freight Traffic Association also develops performance specifications for containers used to transport goods via truck. Their specifications do not specify materials and do not prohibit the use of recovered materials.

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Manual-Grade Strapping

Strapping is used in transport packaging to hold products in place on pallets or in other methods of commercial, bulk shipment to prevent tampering and pilferage during shipping. EPA's designation is limited to manual-grade strapping products that are made from recovered PP, PET, and steel.

1The recommended recovered materials content levels for steel in this table reflect the fact that the designated item can be made from steel manufactured in either a Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) or an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF). Steel from the BOF process contains 25-30 percent total recovered materials, of which 16 percent is postconsumer steel. Steel from the EAF process contains a total of 100% recovered steel, of which 67 percent is postconsumer.

Product
Specifications:

Specifications and guidance for breaking strength, elongation, and other characteristics of various types of strapping can be found in the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards listed in the following table. These specifications neither recommend nor preclude the use of recovered materials.

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Mats

Mats are temporary or semipermanent protective floor coverings used for numerous applications including protecting carpet from wear and tear or providing traction on stairs or slippery floors. Manufacturing mats with recovered content diverts a whole range of materials from disposal including postconsumer rubber, PVC, HDPE, LDPE, PET, PP, and some metals.

¹EPA's recommendations do not preclude a procuring agency from purchasing mats made from other materials. They simply require that procuring agencies, when purchasing mats made from rubber and/or plastic purchase them made with recovered materials when these items meet applicable specifications and performance requirements.

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Pallets

Pallets are rigid platforms made of wood, plastic, or paperboard used for shipping a variety of products including food, paper, and military supplies. Wooden pallets can be repaired or rebuilt with wood from old pallets. Plastic and corrugated pallets can be manufactured from recovered materials.

¹ EPA's recommendation does not preclude a procuring agency from purchasing pallets manufactured from another material. It simply requires that a procuring agency, when purchasing pallets made from wood, plastic, or paperboard, purchase these items made with recovered materials when these items meet applicable specifications and performance requirements.

Product
Specifications:

EPA recommends that procuring agencies use the following specifications when procuring pallets:

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Signage

Signs made from recovered materials are used for public roads and highways, as well as inside and outside of office buildings, museums, parks, and other public places. EPA's designation pertains to plastic signs used for nonroad applications (e.g., building signs, trail signs) and to aluminum roadway and nonroadway signs. The designation also covers any associated plastic or steel supports.

1Plastic signs and sign posts are recommended for nonroad applications only, such as, but not limited to, trailway signs in parks and directional/informational signs in buildings.2The recommended recovered materials content levels for steel in this table reflect the fact that the designated items can be made from steel manufactured in either a Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) or an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF). Steel from the BOF process contains 25-30 percent total recovered materials, of which 16 percent is postconsumer steel. Steel from the EAF process contains a total of 100 percent recovered steel, of which 67 percent is postconsumer.

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Sorbents

Absorbents and adsorbents (referred to as "sorbents") are used in environmental, industrial, agricultural, medical, and scientific applications to retain liquids and gases. Absorbents incorporate substances throughout the body of the absorbing material, while adsorbents gather substances over the surface of the material. Sorbents can be manufactured using recovered paper, textiles, plastics, wood, and other materials. EPA's designation covers sorbents containing recovered materials for use in oil and solvent clean-ups and for use as animal bedding, although recycled-content sorbents can be used in other applications.

EPA's Recommended Recovered Materials
Content Levels for Sorbents Used in Oil and Solvents
Cleanups
and for Use as Animal Bedding

Product

Material

Postconsumer Content (%)

Total
Recovered Materials Content (%)

Sorbents

Paper

90-100

100

Textiles

95-100

95-100

Plastics

--

25-100

Wood1

--

100

Other Organics/Multi-Materials 2

--

100

1"Wood" includes materials such as sawdust and lumber mill trimmings.

2Examples of other organics include, but are not limited to, peanut hulls and corn stover. An example of multimaterial sorbents would include, but not be limited to, a polymer and cellulose fiber combination.

The U.S. General Service Administration's (GSA's) specification for Absorbent Material, Oil and Water (For Floors and Decks) states that "the absorbent material shall consist of a uniform mixture of minerals of the silicate type."

In addition, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has test methods for both absorbents and adsorbents used to remove oils and other compatible fluids from water. These are Standard Method of Testing Sorbent Performance of Absorbents (F 716-09) does not mention any exceptions or differences for testing of sorbents made from recovered materials.